Condiment dispenser



April 15,1958 P. MUNAO 2,

CONDIMENT DISPENSER Filed De c. 8, 1955 J'II 1 'M H w I. {26 g 43 "'12 I IN V EN TOR.

f 19.]. Fig PHILIP MUNAQ ATTORNEY United States Patent CONDIMENT DISPENSER Philip Munao, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 8, 1955, Serial No. 551,813

11 Claims. (Cl. 22278) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in condiment dispensers.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved ketchup bottle ketchup dispenser which can be used in a ketchup bottle of conventional size and shape easily and conveniently to dispense ketchup and securely to close the bottle.

As a further object, the present invention proposes forming the dispenser with a plurality of spaced partition vanes adapted frictionally to fit in the neck of a ketchup bottle with a dispenser rod centrally and slidably mounted in the vanes and secured to a cap and a lifter plate to lift ketchup from the bottle by raising the cap.

Another object of the invention proposes constructing the dispenser rod with a resilient section or member which will permit the cap frictionally and tightly to be placed on the neck of a ketchup bottle when the lifter plate is on or at the bottom of the ketchup bottle.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth. In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a side view of a ketchup bottle with parts broken away and in section and of a dispenser constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the dispenser shown in Fig. 1 with the ketchup bottle shown in dot-dash outline and partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the spring member fully compressed.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating still another modification of the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the ketchup bottle ketchup dispenser in accordance with the first form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is designated generally by the reference numeral 15.

Dispenser 15 has a plurality of spaced partition vanes 16, 17, 18 and 19, four vanes being shown but any number may be used. The vanes 16, 17, 18 and 19 are adapted frictionally to fit securely in the neck 20 of a ketchup bottle 21 of conventional size and shape.

A straight dispenser rod 22 is slidably and centrally mounted in the vanes 16, 17, 18 and 19 at the center section 23 which section has an axial rod opening 24.

Fixed to one end 25 of dispenser rod 22 is a lift plate 26 preferably of stifily flexible material and having a lower disc portion 27 and an upper disc portion 28 smaller in diameter than the lower disc portion 27.

A cap member 29 is secured at the upper end 30 of the dispenser rod 22. Cap member 29 has a ketchup bottle neck receiving recess 31 adapted frictionally to fit over the top or upper neck 20 of ketchup bottle 21. Cap mem- 2,830,731 Patented Apr. 15, 1958 ber 29 is in the shape of a tomato with a lifting stem 32 simulating the stem on a tomato.

To operate the dispenser, the cap member 29 is lifted and the dispenser rod raised by the cap member. This raises the lift plate and the lift plate forces the ketchup up and out the spaces between the vanes. The bottle is closed by pressing the cap member 29 back on the top or upper neck of the ketchup bottle.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is characterized by the provision of a dispenser rod 40 having a resilient member or compression spring 41 adjacent the lift plate 42 so that when the lift plate abuts the bottom 43 of a ketchup bottle 44 the cap member (not shown) can be pressed down upon the top of the bottle.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5 is characterized by the provision of a dispenser 50 having a cap member 51 with a ketchup bottle neck receiving recess 52 adapted frictionally to fit over the top 53 of a ketchup bottle 54. A spring plate 55 is fixed to the cap member 51 above the recess 52 and a movable spring plate 56 is movably mounted in the recess 52 and adapted to fit over the top of the ketchup bottle. A compression spring 57 is mounted between and secured to the two plates 55 and 56. A dispenser rod 58 is secured to the movable plate 56.

It is to be understood that the condiment dispenser may also be made without any vanes.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein described and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A ketchup bottle dispenser comprising a plurality of spaced partition vanes adapted frictionally to fit in the neck of a ketchup bottle, said vanes constituting a bearing unit, a dispenser rod slidably and centrally mounted in said vanes and being guided thereby, a lift plate at one end of the rod and a cap member at the other end of the rod adapted frictionally to fit over the top of a ketchup bottle, said cap member having a ketchup bottle neck receiving recess and being in the shape of a tomato.

2. A ketchup bottle dispenser comprising a plurality of spaced partition vanes adapted frictionally to fit in the neck of a ketchup bottle, said vanes constituting a bearing unit, a dispenser rod slidably and centrally mounted in said vanes and being guided thereby, a lift plate at one end of the rod and a cap member at the other end of the rod adapted frictionally to fit over the top of a ketchup bottle, said cap member having a ketchup bottle neck receiving recess and being in the shape of a tomato, said cap member having a lifting stem adapted to simulate the stem on a tomato.

3. A ketchup bottle dispenser comprising a plurality of spaced partition vanes adapted frictionally to fit in the neck of a ketchup bottle, said vanes constituting a bearing unit, a dispenser rod slidably and centrally mounted in said vanes and being guided thereby, a lift plate at one end of the'rod and a cap member at the other end of the rod adapted frictionally to fit over the top of a ketchup bottle, said lift plate being of stiflly flexible material, said lift plate having a lower disc portion and an upper disc portion smaller in diameter than the lower disc portion.

4. A ketchup bottle dispenser comprising a plurality of spaced partition vanes adapted frictionally to fit in the neck of a ketchup botle, a dispenser rod slidably and centrally mounted in said vanes, a lift plate at one end of the rod and a cap member at the other end of the rod adapted frictionally to fit over the top of a ketchup bottle,

. spring disposed adjacent the lift plate.

6. A ketchup bottle dispenser comprising a plurality of spaced partition vanes adapted frictionally to fit in the neck of a ketchup bottle, a dispenser rod slidably and centrally mounted in said vanes, a lift plate at one end of the rod and a cap member at the other end of the rod adapted frictionally to fit over the top of a ketchup bottle,

and a resilient membercompressibly mounted in the cap member and connected with the dispenser rod.

7. A ketchup bottle dispenser comprising a plurality of spaced partition vanes adapted frictionally to fit in the neck of a ketchup bottle, a dispenser rod slidably and centrally mounted in said vanes, a lift plate at one end of the rod and a cap member at the other end of the rod adapted frictionally to fit over the top of a ketchup bottle, and a resilient member compressibly mounted in the cap member and connected with the dispenser rod, said resilient member being a pair of spaced spring plates and a compression spring between the two plates, one of said spring plates being fixed to the cap member and the other being movably mounted in the cap member, said dispenser rod being secured to the movable spring plate,

8. A ketchup bottle dispenser comprising a plurality of spaced partition vanes adapted frictionally to fit in the neck of a ketchup bottle, said vanes constituting a bearing unit, a dispenser rod slidably and centrally mounted in said vanes and being guided thereby, a lift plate at one end of the rod and a cap member at the other end of the rod adapted frictionally to fit over the top of a ketchup bottle, said lift plate being of stifiiy flexible material, said cap member having a ketchup bottle neck receiving recess and being in the shape of a tomato, said cap member having a lifting stem adapted to simulate the stem on a tomato, and a resilient member interposed between the ends of the dispenser rod.

9. A ketchup bottle dispenser comprising a plurality of spaced partition vanes adapted frictionally to fit in the neck of a ketchup bottle, said vanes constituting a bearing unit, a dispenser rod slidably and centrally mounted in said vanes and being guided thereby, a lift plate at one end of the rod and a cap member at the other end of the rod adapted frictionally to fit over the top of a ketchup bottle, said lift plate being of stifiiy flexible material, said cap member having a ketchup bottle neck receiving recess and being in the shape of a tomato, said cap member having a lifting stem adapted to simulate the stem on a tomato, and a resilient member interposed between the ends of the dispenser rod, said lift plate having a lower disc portion and an upper disc portion smaller in diameter than the lower disc portion, said resilient member being a compression spring disposed adjacent the lift plate.

10. A ketchup bottle dispenser comprising a dispenser rod slidably and centrally mounted, a lift plate at one end of the rod and a cap member at the other end of the rod adapted frictionally to fit over the top of a ketchup bottle, and a resilient member interposed between the ends of the dispenser rod, said resilient member being a compression spring disposed adjacent the lift plate.

11. A ketchup bottle dispenser comprising a dispenser rod slidably and centrally mounted, a lift plate at one end of the rod and a cap member at the other end of the rod adapted frictionally to fit over the top of a ketchup bottle, said lift plate being of stifily flexible material, said cap member having a ketchup bottle neck receiving recess and being in the shape of a tomato, said cap member having a lifting stem adapted to simulate the stem on a tomato, and a resilient member interposed between the ends of the dispenser rod, said lift plate having a lower disc portion and an upper disc portion smaller in diameter than the lower disc portion, said resilient member being a compression spring disposed adjacent the lift plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,792,464 Miller Feb. 10, 1931 2,038,915 Unger Apr. 28, 1936 2,563,251 Lanahan Aug. 7, 1951 2,572,167 Lowe Oct. 23. 1951 

